ADA: Ask Doc Anything!

[Walker]

Thanks Doc, I guess I need to pick up thread gauges also. The threads do look like Cocker, but the OD of the rear of the barrels are different. The Carter is .830, where a stock Cocker barrel is .865... They will not interchange for sure... If the Emco would have came from the original owner, with the tools, I would consider it. But otherwise, I'll pass and probably go new.

[Walker]

Thanks my friend... If I go that way, I'll definitely reach out.

[XEMON]

-I'm not overly familiar with the little Emcos, but I'm given to understand that generally, they're pretty light duty- even for a tabletop machine- and limited in features. I seem to recall them having an odd or possibly unique way to mount the chuck, so you either need to find an Emco chuck or make your own backing plate for a different one.

Personally, a thousand bucks with zero accessories is at least fifty percent too high.

I have an Emco Compact 5 CNC and they are beast ...
They are a bit on the light duty, but are incredible precision machines. I've seen machine shop using them for titanium watch cases production.
my oem 3 jay chuck has 1.5thou runout about an inch out on gauge pins without dialing it in ...

1K seam a bit high, but the milling attachment go for 5-800 alone (its absolutely unusable for anything other than cutting Styrofoam)
the manual version usually go for 500 to 1500 depending on attachment and the CNC for 800-2500 depending on attachments and generation of electronics.

it seam like there is a collet holder without the nut on there. it takes er25 collet.

the chuck has 2 way to mount, both "proprietary", one is a 3 bolt pattern and the other is a 4 bolt pattern; no special threads or locking mechanism.

Walker feel free to ask anything you want on those little guys, i have lost of stuff on them.

[DocsMachine]

The only thing I've found local (used) is this: The guy bought it from an estate sale and WYSIWYG for $1050.... No tooling, no chucks, just as seen (amid the other clutter).

-I'm not overly familiar with the little Emcos, but I'm given to understand that generally, they're pretty light duty- even for a tabletop machine- and limited in features. I seem to recall them having an odd or possibly unique way to mount the chuck, so you either need to find an Emco chuck or make your own backing plate for a different one.

Personally, a thousand bucks with zero accessories is at least fifty percent too high.

What barrel threads are these?

-Just from the photo, and being Carter-based, I'd guess Loopy is right- it's a more-or-less 'Cocker based thread, missing the Carter bore sizers. It looks very close to 20 TPI.

Then again, Carters were generally handmade, it could be "whatever Earon decided to use that day".

how long is shipping from Alaska to Missouri? just a joke. bought some vm-68 side rails from you on ebay[.]

-Generally about three or four days for Priority, four or five for First Class. Your package should have been delivered by the time you probably read this.

Doc.

[mustangii]

how long is shipping from Alaska to Missouri? just a joke. bought some vm-68 side rails from you on ebay, lol
edm

[Walker]

Similar setup, but different distances.

[Loophole]

Doc,

What barrel threads are these?


Found on:

Looks the exact same as my mini-buzzard! Doc is currently making me a freak bored barrel for mine... I'm curious if it would fit yours without modification!


Here's a photo of the threads.

[DocsMachine]

One addendum: I started this whole biz with a badly worn-out JET mill-drill, and a Grizzly 9x20 lathe. And look at the stuff YouTuber Clickspring makes with a Sherline lathe, and a... I think it's a "Busy Bee" Chinese lathe, I think about one step smaller than even a 9x20.

A patient craftsman can do pretty good work even with just mediocre tools.

Doc.

[Walker]

Doc,

What barrel threads are these?


Found on:

[Walker]

The only thing I've found local (used) is this:


The guy bought it from an estate sale and WYSIWYG for $1050.... No tooling, no chucks, just as seen (amid the other clutter).

[Walker]

Thanks Doc......

[DocsMachine]

I'd lean toward the Grizzly stuff, as I've generally had pretty good luck with those. Griz also has better warranty and product support than, say, Harbor Freight.

Another good one is Little Machine Shop. Basically the same stuff, might be a touch cheaper, and they generally also carry both repair parts and upgrades.

You'd need to talk to somebody with direct experience with particular models, I only know secondhand info on most of them.

I'd get the biggest model of each that I could afford- and fit into my workspace. It's easy to do small parts on a big lathe, it's not so easy to do big parts on a small one.

Doc.

[Walker]

Doc,

Can you recommend a mini mill and lathe for a beginner on a budget?

Working with brass and/or aluminum, nothing large, small pieces for PB gun repairs and such, and to keep my hands busy.

Thanks in advance,


Walker

[infamoussmiley]

I got your earlier messages Smiley, and I've been meaning to get back to you. I'd love to give that a try, but right at the moment, I'm not really the guy to ask about complex CAD work.

Generally speaking, if you can fully model it in something like F360 or Solidworks, any decent CNC shop should be able to quote on that. BUT... you'll probably also have a hard time finding a shop that'll even talk to you for less than about 5,000 units.

I've got a lot on my plates right now, hit me up in a month or so, if you haven't found other options, and maybe I can take another crack at it.

Doc.

Thank you, Doc.


Best,

Smiley

[XEMON]

Unfortunately, i don't have the room to move it, and code doesn't allow me to enclose the overhang ...
Both machines are now dripping in way oil and ATF .😋